British Heart Foundation

"With so many people suffering heart conditions and my own family history, it makes great sense to me for the BHF to be the primary recipient of any fundraising activities I am involved in." In May 2023, Glyn Thomas lost his father to heart failure. Reflecting on this difficult time, he noted, "They said it was congestive heart failure, so there was nothing they could really do in the hospital. We found out about it not to long before he passed away. We think he had it for a number of years." Glyn himself has right bundle branch block – a condition when the electrical pathways in the right side of the heart are disrupted. He was completely unaware of any issue until the age of 30 when it was noticed in a chest x-ray he had after diving. He pointed out, "As well as my father’s health issues there has been a number of events in my life that have made me aware that I need to do what I can for me and for others as well." This awareness led to Glyn talking part in Walk for Heart last October. As a fair-weather walker, the challenge helped him combine two of his favourite things. Being in nature and birding. He expressed, "As long as your still fit enough to do something, I believe you should be getting out in nature. I love nature and really do believe it helps improve your health. Every walk is enhanced when you also enjoy birding. Take some binoculars with you and you can enjoy their beauty, their sounds, different songs and their behaviours." Reflecting on what the enjoyed most about Walk for Hearts, he said: "I enjoyed the incentive to get out every day. Then I started enjoying creating photos and narrative about my walks, what I saw, especially which birds. I also got many messages for other Walk For Hearts walkers who were enjoying my updates and asked me to keep doing them and I’m also incentivised them." Before Walk for Hearts, Glyn regularly walked especially when birding. However, through the challenge, he felt the extra sense of motivation to go out and walk every day. During National Walking Month in May, you too can walk in Gyln's footsteps and make a difference. Whether taking on short walks in your local park during the week or meeting up with loved ones to go on longer walks over the weekend, you can Walk for Hearts and support the BHF: https://lnkd.in/exhPiuCK.

Last week, the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill successfully passed through the House of Commons, and will now move to the House of Lords to continue its journey through Parliament. This achievement is another moment in our collective journey to become a #SmokefreeUK. For a long time, we have advocated for stronger tobacco control legislation, including the introduction of standardised tobacco packaging and the indoor smoking bans across the UK. We know that these measures have had dramatic benefits to public health, including on the nation's heart health, and our work with partners Action on Smoking and Health (UK) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK), as well as, many others has driven these improvements. This Bill will ensure that future generations are protected from the devastating consequences of smoking, and the BHF will continue to support it as it moves through Parliament.

Eid Mubarak! May this day bring you prosperity, peace and many happy memories with family and friends. 🌙✨

We're delighted to have received two honours in the BQF #UKExcellenceAwards! Having been successful at becoming finalists in 7 categories, we picked up the awards for Excellence in: Lean Six Sigma and Being Excellent: Emerging Leader. A huge well done to our staff members Graham Hawkins, Andrew Horler, Pepper Clayton-Fisher, and the rest of the amazing finalists involved. 👏

“The challenge felt like a win-win opportunity - motivation to try out strength exercise as opposed to cardio exercises…plus raising money for a great cause.” Strong Woman participant. Our Strong Woman Challenge kicks off on April 1st and we'd love for you to join! For 30 days in April, women in the BHF community will be taking on 30 exercises to keep fit, gain strength and raise funds for lifesaving research. Suitable for all fitness levels, the Strong Woman Challenge includes a bespoke PureGym training plan to help you through. You can take part on your own at home or invite a friend, sibling or even your mum to work out with you: https://lnkd.in/e5aPxyzJ.

This week marks a major milestone in our partnership with Tesco... 10 years of incredible support. ❤️ Over the last decade, our partnership has helped us save countless lives, provided support to families affected by heart and circulatory diseases, and made a huge difference to the BHF community. We look forward to our continued mission to help more people lead healthier lives.

Last night, the crews for this year's The Boat Race Company were officially selected! As the 2025 official charity partner, we can't wait to see the Oxford and Cambridge teams battling it out on the Thames. Did you know the BHF has Centres of Research Excellence at both universities, making this partnership even more special.

"I’ve grown up watching The Boat Race. It’s gladiatorial." James Robson first took up rowing aged 17. A friend asked if he’d join their school team where he realised, he was ‘pretty good!’ From there, his love for the sport was cemented at Newcastle University. Last summer, James was the final reserve for the GB rowing squad at the Paris Olympic Games. He’s now hoping to make the national team for the World Championships in Shanghai this autumn and has ambitions to make the team in Los Angeles 2028. James, who is currently studying for an MBA at Cambridge University, is thrilled that BHF is a partner of The Boat Race Company, as it’s a cause very close to his own heart. In 2022, whilst training with the national team at their base near Reading, James’ heart rate started racing. Following the incident and medical tests, he was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AF). James has since been prescribed medication and has made some lifestyle changes to support his heart health. He’s also under the care of consultant cardiologist Dr Sanjay Sharma whose research has been funded by BHF. In the lead up to the event, James, who is expected to make the Cambridge Blue Boat, says: "To have the opportunity to work with BHF is great and the event is a fantastic opportunity to raise funds for an incredible cause. If sport can be used to shed light on the charity’s work, I want to do whatever I can to help."

Kicking off today Sky Betting & Gaming and The EFL (English Football League) are teaming up to support the BHF with an exhilarating nationwide relay event to inspire football fans and the nation to learn potentially lifesaving CPR. This exciting event will see 72 EFL Clubs come together in an extraordinary relay, spanning 4 weeks, and covering a total of 4,000km. Fans from across the country will run, walk, or cycle to complete each leg of the relay, all in support  of something life changing: learning CPR.   Each month more than 2,500 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK and tragically less than one in 10 survive, often because those around them don’t have the confidence to perform CPR. Every minute that passes reduces the chances of survival by up to 10%. Donate 15 minutes of your time to learn CPR through RevivR today: https://bit.ly/4c1Lbqo.

We’ve partnered with Mediaplanet on today’s Health Awareness: Cardiovascular Health campaign, launching online and within the Guardian. Follow the link to read more: https://lnkd.in/d4AXPT_h #CardiovascularHealth2025